Shoe missile, Latin American scorn for U.S. misplaced

(COMMENTARY)—Despite the relative youth of the United States as a country, compared to others like Russia, China and France, we find ourselves in a quandary. In Iraq, a country we’ve not only sent aid to but also technically ‘liberated’ as a result of a defensive front in the War on Terror, a so-called journalist tossed not one but two shoes at our president. Now Latin America figuratively tosses a shoe, excluding us from the Latin America summit while welcoming the latest Castro to rule Cuba. American media, leftist entertainment figures and liberal politicians love to remind us the world hates America. Rarely do any of those constituencies admit the world hates us, in no small part, because those same constituencies rarely have anything good to say about what most of us believe is the greatest –indeed the most exceptional—country in the world.

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SC earthquake a reminder it’s not all about global warming

My recent column ‘Blogosphere fires on AP for alarmist article’ points out the current limiting focus of global warming theology for government leaders, environmentalists and other zealots. I mentioned the close proximity of a pending asteroid (Apophis)—and the only reason we have the correct figures on that is a German teen caught mistakes in calculations by NASA. Early Tuesday morning, in the South Carolina Lowcountry near Summerville (near the larger city of Charleston), a weak earthquake caused a few injuries and some damage. The 3.6 quake happened around 7:42 a.m. according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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Blogosphere fires on AP for alarmist article on global warming

Please note the correction to this article regarding the asteroid Apophis. Within the story the deletion is noted within brackets. We thank our readers for setting us straight. See the 'Comments' section below.

Earth, our home planet, has oceans of liquid water, and continents that rise above sea level. NASA scientists combined satellite photographs with surface data to create this detailed image of Earth's land masses and oceans. The swirling mass of clouds west of Mexico is a large hurricane. [Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center]I read the header (‘Obama left with little time to curb global warming’) and then I read the descriptive: “a ticking time bomb.” And I swore to myself I’d ignore this latest appeal by an alarmist writer who, not surprisingly, writes for the Associated Press which means his work will be memed and taken for gospel around the world. As might be expected, the writer in question, Seth Borenstein, is an environmental apostle of Al Gore's theology. He noted Gore’s influence on President-Elect Barack Obama after a meeting the twosome had, with Obama emerging to declare, “The time for denial is over.” Gore has issued environmental epistles since Bill Clinton was president. If you think about the threesome, and their expertise, we have one with an expertise in government, one with some experience as a community organizer and lawyer, and another whose major was journalism. These three men are influencers on global energy policy. And the blogosphere is having a ball with their 'end of days' warnings.

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Government-run healthcare taxed in UK as hospitals shut wards due to Norovirus

The Norovirus is really a pretty color. But its effects are definitely not pretty. [Image courtesy of CDC image library; US Gov.](London, UK)—Proponents of government-run healthcare often describe it in utopian terms, but London hospitals have closed down wards, unable to keep up with the challenges of a Norovirus epidemic. The Daily Express (UK) said 999 emergency patients were turned away in London. One reader shared his story about a similar illness years ago in the Comments section, writing, “My company sent us to England on December 2001 [Sic]. The site manager was the first to come down with what I know today from this article as a Norovirus. I got it first and then my wife. It was typical winter weather in the Midlands, dark, rainy, cold and we were in temporary housing. I have never, never, ever, been so sick in my whole life.”

The current virus causes a full gamut of intestinal problems, with the most dramatic being projectile vomiting. The CDC has a fact sheet available. The illness is very contagious, so if you have it, do the rest of us a favor and stay home. The very young, the elderly and those whose immune systems are weak are most at risk of secondary problems. Dehydration is a factor, so anyone who has this should of course imbibe liquids to replace what is lost.

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Who really controls what you find on the Web?

Recent articles about how Google really determines top search results and the impact of the Google search Wiki raise a broad question. Who really controls what you find on the Web? Are page ranks really based on unbiased data? Do actual human hands ever manipulate search results? If you’re a conservative, will your results be pushed to the bottom to feed on the rare searcher who actually pushes past the first few pages? I don’t have any easy answers, but I’ve often mentioned the danger of majority reliance on a single major search engine, especially once with a definite Democratic Party mindset. Often we hear the Web is a democracy. Let me assure you it is not. The Web at the moment is dominated by the Leftosphere. So be it. We are a free country and corporations have the right to politicize as they see fit. But isn't there an opportunity here?

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Gohmert’s tax holiday plan legs get stronger

Updated on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 12:24PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

[Commentary]—Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) has been making the rounds talking about his tax plan on TV and in print. This week’s edition of ‘Human Events’ carried a story, and although at first many expressed doubts, people are beginning to realize Gohmert’s plan is the most logical way to get the economy going again. Gohmert’s announcement on his website explains the plan: “Gohmert’s legislation (H.R. 7309) would require that ALL federal income tax based on wages earned and FICA withholding normally coming out of a paycheck be left in their paychecks for two straight months. This would dramatically increase the amount of each worker’s paycheck. The tax cut would be fully paid for by ending all authority to spend another dime of Sec. [Henry] Paulson’s remaining $350 billion slush fund. Even wage-earners who do not make enough to pay income tax would get back their FICA or Social Security withholding so it would apply to the entire spectrum of taxpayers. The bill would do what should have been done long ago – allow taxpayers to hang on to the money they worked so hard for and use it to decide which companies deserve bailing out.”

Rep. Gohmert discusses his tax holiday plan at a press conference. [Photo from Gohmert/US Congress website].

In a nutshell, Gohmert’s plan is the only plan that goes directly to Main Street. Some commenters say employers would think the plan too much trouble, to adjust payroll systems to allow for the tax holiday. I would ask those commenters to visit a local business or a large corporation. Anyone who actually has to produce a profit, rather than piggybacking on government funds for a livelihood, would be more than happy to keep their hands on tax payments. Any worker would feel the same.

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Presidential Citizens Medal goes to Sinise for helping kids in war-torn countries

Fans know Gary Sinise as the unforgettable Lt. Dan in 'Forrest Gump' and as the charismatic Det. Mac Taylor on 'CSI: NY'. Unlike many of his fellows in the entertainment industry, Sinise doesn’t preach about what’s wrong with the world. He does something about it.  President George W. Bush awarded Gary Sinise a 2008 Presidential Citizens Medal in a ceremony at the Oval Office on Wednesday. The Presidential Citizens Medal was established in November 13, 1969, to recognize U.S. citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. It is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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